> > If you have a snarer in the group, the bard should /not/ be using chains
> > unless you don't mind runners. Where I adventure, one runner means evac or
> > death.
>
> I guess I need to chastise my druid/ranger friends for not
> doing a good job then. I am constantly Chaining stuff that
Probably so. One of a druid's (and rangers) primary jobs should be to make
sure all the mobs are snared, or at least all the mobs taking damage.
That's an easy job, seeing as the usual strategy is for everyone to focus
on one mob.
> Actually, I think the amount of taunt is about this same,
> except Chain gets cast over and over, while Snare you only
> need to cast once.
Right, seems the same to me. So the end result is that keeping
something snared is a minor taunt relative to keeping something chained.
> Interesting. Didn't know that - that would change strategies
> considerably. Can you "refresh" the snare before this period
> is up by recasting it?
Yes. I should time exactly how long it lasts at level 40. It's over 1
minute, I'd guess 90-150 seconds, probably 120. And you can refresh it at
any time.
Beware that if someone roots the mob, even after it 'breaks free' and is
running, you will most likely be unable to resnare it (cannot take hold).
> > No, it's MUCH better to rely on casters to snare. Why? Because chains has
> > to be cast while the runner is trying to run -- one failure and it's time
>
> ??? You can Chain something that's already Chained. If we're
> in a dangerous situation and can't afford runners, I start to
> Chain a couple rounds before it should begin to run. If it's
> a yellow or red mob with a high chance of resisting, I just
> keep Chaining it over and over after that. I've had just two
> mobs (red) get away from me in the last month or so of doing
> this.
Yes, you can chain again and again. But if you end up with multiple mobs
running, or a red that's resisting a lot, you're in trouble. Whereas it
may take 3 castings to snare that red guy, but once he's snared there's
nothing to worry about.
> Like I said, I'm constantly Chaining stuff that starts to run
> when the snare expires. At that point, you can still Chain
> while chasing the mob. Casters need to stand still to
> snare/root it again. So Chain is often the *only* option.
I don't see why snare should be expiring. Make sure your casters aren't
using ENSNARE (24/29/34 spell?) which is vastly inferior to the level 1
SNARE. ENSNARE runs out after 1-10 seconds on average. SNARE lasts a
guaranteed time. THe mob should be dead long before that time expires.
> Maybe it changes at higher levels. Nearly all the recent bad
> situations I've gotten into involving runners was when I
> relied on a druid or ranger to snare and didn't bother
> Chaining.
Go whip those rangers/druids into shape. =P Snare is one of the best
spells in the game and they're not doing their job if they're not using it
effectively.
It's the ONE spell both my druid and ranger ALWAYS had mem'd, no matter
the circumstances, through a combined 64 levels.